Budget 2014-15: Minimum wage raised to Rs 11,000; pension up by 10%

ISLAMABAD: The government has proposed increase in minimum wage from existing Rs 10,000 to Rs 11,000 in the budget for 2014-15, ARY News reported Tuesday.

According to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar during his budget speech in the National Assembly, a 10% ad-hoc relief will be allowed to all federal government employees with effect from 1st July 2014;

Similarly,a 10% increase will be allowed to those employees in Grade-1 to 15 drawing fixed medical allowance of Rs.1000 per month; a 5% increase will be allowed in conveyance allowance to those employees working in Grade-1 to 15;

Besides, the post of superintendent is being upgraded from Grade-16 to Grade-17; one pre-mature increment will be allowed to employees of Grade-1 to 4. For welfare of the labor class, and in line with the increase in pay of government employees, the minimum wage rate is also being increased from Rs.10,000 to Rs.11,000.

The Finance Minister said: “Last year I had raised the minimum pension for government employees from Rs.3000 per month to Rs.5000, representing an increase of 67%. Considering the difficulties faced by low pension employees, I am announcing a further increase of Rs.1000 in minimum pension to make it Rs.6000. This means that the minimum pension has been doubled since July 1, 2013. A 10% increase in pension will also be allowed to all retired federal government employees.”